Chinese domestic steel section prices have fluctuated slightly during the past seven days.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have edged up a little during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,990/mt ($433/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,010/mt ($436/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,090/mt ($448/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam steel section offer prices from the ports of Shanghai and Tianjin stand at $506-541/mt FOB as of today, Monday, March 23, up by a small margin from March 16.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section has been at normal levels, while some prices have risen slightly, supported by upticks in billet prices. Meanwhile, certain traders chose to slightly reduce their quoted prices in order to close more deals. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may just indicate small fluctuations.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,440 | 0 | 498 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,280 | 0 | 475 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,370 | 10 | 488 | 2 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,170 | 0 | 459 | 0 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,550 | 20 | 514 | 3 | ||
| Average price | 3,362 | 6 | 487 | 1 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,500 | -20 | 507 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,270 | 0 | 474 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,330 | 10 | 482 | 2 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,160 | -10 | 458 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,520 | 20 | 510 | 3 | ||
| Average price | 3,356 | 0 | 486 | 0 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,480 | 0 | 504 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,320 | -10 | 481 | -1 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,430 | 20 | 497 | 3 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,240 | -10 | 469 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,580 | 20 | 519 | 3 | ||
| Average price | 3,410 | 4 | 494 | 1 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 6.904
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 506 | 2 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 531 | 2 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 511 | 2 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 536 | 2 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 521 | 2 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 521 | 2 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 536 | 2 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 546 | 2 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 541 | 2 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 551 | 2 |